The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-06-17
HOW TOMS COTTAGE WAS nUrLT.
A True story.

ter of the two, leaving q well-sodded yard
for the children's playground, and flowers
in front, and a well-kept kitchen garden
and COW lot in the rear. 1t was indeed
lovely and lome-like, and all the passen-
gers who saw it from the windows of The
passing cars, declared it was the prettiest
and sweetest pla, &c along the railroad.
The shade trees, and flower beds, and
vines on the portico were just right. At
every angle and every point Of view the
delighted observer was compelled to ex-
claim: "What a lovely place. 81 would
like to possess and live in just such a home
as that"
Well, that is Tom Markwin's home, and
children. Love, content and peace are the
presiding d~ivinities in that vine-embower-
ed cottage, and the benediction of God
rests upon its thrice happy inmates day
and night.
Doubtless you think there is nothing
wonderful in all that. But there is.
There has been 4 revolution in that little
domestic circle, and in many others also.
Praise the Lord!
You didn't know Tom Markwin q few
years ago. Well, I did. He is all right
now, certainly. Then he was all wrong
woefully wrong, from the beginning, and
al through.
When Tom was 4 boy he was brimful Of
fun and frolic, and he was the acknowl-
edged leader among his associates in all
games and mischief. In his Young man
gay times, running over with animal spirits
like an unbridled colt.
He worked hard at his trade, and as he
was a good workman, made money. Bat
fairest and sweetest girl in the county he
had nothing saved. There was a slight
Improvement for a few months, and then 4
return to the old life and haunts, and a
deeper plunge into baneful social customs.
His wife and children were not entirely
neglected. But they lived in a howell on
very coarse fare, and not always a suf1i-
cheney of even that. Their clothing cor
responded to their home and food. 1t was
always of the cheapest ma~terial-never in
rags thanks to the neat little wife and
mother-but often darned and patched as
long as the original texture would bear it.
A very sad, unsatisfactory life, don't you
think, TO say the least of it?
But Tom was gay and light-hearted.
Did not care for dress and show. Did not
intend to be unkind to wife and babies in
fact, and really, only once or twice in his
life was he known to have spoken
harshly to his patient, long suffering wife,
or his helpless, innocent children; and on
those few occasions he was more than
usually %full-well, that was what was the
matter with him-the sole and only trou-
bic.
The village tavern was near at hand and
Tom found the ''boys" there almost every
evening. Tom and the 'sboys" had grown
up together, and from their early 'tcens"
had been accustomed to meeting at the
"Royal' and taking a social glass of cider.
Yes, they began on cider, with a plug of
''honey dew" and a few ''half-Spanish"
cigars or Gladly fingers as an aecompani-
ment. AS the years went by, we need
scarcely mention the result. Appetite
grew apace. The graduation was natural
and easy, and Tom and the "boys" were
found taking something stronger than ci-
der.
"Where was the harm?" they asked.
"Were they not men )" They could "take
or let it alone" of course. But they al
ways s'take," and never ''let it alone"
There's the Grub"
Thus the evil grew with Tom, and thus
it ever grows with all. 1t never diminish
eS. 1t is always more, never less. So, too,
Toms money and time went, more and
more, and with them the very life and hap
piness of his family. Poor, deluded, blind
ed fool! For a long, long time he did not
seem to know it, until it was almost too
late.
But one day-or rather Il ~night--his
eyes were opened. This is how it happen
ed. A temperance meeting was in pro-
gress at the Baptist Church in the village.
But Tom and the ''boys" did not attend
temperance meetings. Why should they?
Temperance meetings were held to reclaim
drunkards, and they were not of that class.
OF course not; they were just q jolly little
club that met almost every evening in the
week at the "I,oyal," for social and intel
lectual improvement and pleasure. This
is the standing argument of those who
walk this downward path to inevitable
wreck and ruin.
But Tom went to the temperance meet
ing this evening to which | have referred.
His bright little daughter Alice, whom
Tom fairly idolized, had caught him at
supper time, with her arms around his neck
and her kisses on his lips, and securely
held him.
sPapa, you don't have to go to the
Royal Tonight" was her plea, ''and l
want you to take me to tho church. 1t
is to be the children's meeting, and |
promised Mr.. B%rightweli to come, if you
would bring me. Won't you take me,
papa?"
Mr.. Brightwell was the temperance